Insert for golf clubs



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,551

G. w. MATTERN NSERT FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed August s, 1923 Patented Nov. Z, 1926.

UNITED PATENT @FFIQEM GEORGE W. MATTERN, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRAWFORD, MCGREG-OR ANI) CANBY COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INSERT FOR GOLF CLUBS.

Application filed August 3, 1923.

My invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to the method of securing inserts in the heads of golf clubs.

It is customary to balance the club head and improve the efficiency by inlaying the head of golf club to secure the proper' degree of impact upon the ball when struck to insure long` distance flight and low trajectory. Ordinarily the striking face of a golf club is inlaid with a body of ivory or some ivory substitute. One of the present materials being a casein product of ivory like density and hardness. While ivory or the materials having the characteristics of ivory are preferred other materials also are widely used for such insert structure. Club heads are also frequently provided with metal weights usually located at the rear of the club or substantially in alinement with the point of impact. More or less difficulty has been experienced in keeping such inserts and weights tightly seated in the club head. The club head of wood and the insert in some instances are quite susceptible to atmospheric and climatic changes permitting shrinkage and consequent loosening of the insert.

The present invention contemplates a method of securing inserts in the striking face of golf club heads as well as the securing of the weight body at the rear of the club by positive means which will obviate the difficulties due to expansion and contraction under varying conditions. In the present instance the main insert body in the striking face is secured by screw threaded studsV positioned coincident with the margin of the insert whereby the threaded portions of the studs intersect the inserted body and simultaneously intersect and engage lin the main body of the club head. These anchor studs may be of material having characteristics similar to the insert but if desired of different color whereby the insert face will present an ornamental and pleasing` design. In the event that the club is provided with a weight or other insert at its rear side the striking face insert may be provided with an extended shank screw threaded into the rear weight body.

The object of the invention is to simplify the manner of applying and securing insert Serial No. 655,437.

bodies in the heads of golf clubs whereby such clubs may not only be cheapened in construction7 but will be more efficient in playing more durable and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for positively connecting the insert body with the main body of the club head whereby it may not be loosened and displaced by relative shrinkage of the parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing insert bodies in the club heads whereby the head will be reinforced and strengthened to prevent splitting` or cracking of the head.

A further object of the invention is to interconnect the weight body and the impact member of the striking face whereby the full effect and momentum of the weight may be 'transmitted directly to the ball at the moment of impact.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means for the insert which will afford a pleasing and ornamental design for the striking face.

With the above primary and other vincidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. l is a perspective view of a golf club head in which the present invention has been embodied. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through a golf club head provided with an impact insertV in the striking face and a weight body at the rear of the head said bodies being positively interconnected one with the other. Fig. 3 is a similar transverse sectional view illustrating the anchorn age of an inserted impact body without the addition of the connected weight. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the possibility for variation of the striking face design by employment of the present method of anchoring the inserts. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional view and face view respectively illustrating a further modification and variation of design aiiected by arrangement of the insert.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the drawings l indicates a wooden golf club head having` in the striking face 2 thereof an inserted impact body 3. The insert body 3 may be of any suitable material but is usually made of ivory or sonic ivory substitute. The body 3 is substantially cylindrical in form and conforms to and accurately fits the socket or receiving recess in the body l. Ordinarily such inserts are cemented and reliance placed wholly upon the cement to hold the insert against displacement. In the present instance there are provided a plurality of screw threaded anchor studs 4. These anchor studs 4 are preferably though not necessarily of the. same material as the main insert body 3 but may be differently colored to afford a pleasing design. The anchor studs 4 are located substantially coincident with the marginal outline of the body 3 in such relation that they simultaneously intersect with the inserted body 3 and also the main body l of the club head. These anchor studs are located by drilling and threading the stud holes subsequent to the insertion of the main body 3. The threaded engagement of the anchor studs 4 on one side with the insert body 3 and on their opposite sides with the main body l of the golf club head holds the insert in fixed position in relation with theV club head and prevents its displacement. Preferably the threaded holes to receive the anchor studs 4 do not extend to the full .depth of the insert body 3 thereby leaving an unintersected portion 5 having a shoulder beyond the inner extremity of the threaded stud. In Fig. 2 there is shown the usualV metal weight 6 located at the rear of the head l. Such weight bodies are usually attached to the clubv head by screws passing forwardly through the metal weight and into the main body l of the club head. The

heads of such attachment screws or the filling inserted in the screw holes over the head of such .screws mars the appearance of the` external face of the weight body G. In the present case the weight body 6 is connected directly to the impact body 3 by means of an integral shank 7 on one of'tliese bodies which is screw threaded into the other. In Fig. 2 the shank is shown formed integral with the insert 3 and havinga screw threaded end `8 engaged with the weight 6'. rilhis shank' 7 not only serves to attach the weight body 6 and hold it tightly in place but it also assists in anchoring the insert 3 in the driving face and preventing it becomingloosened in its seat. Moreover the shoulder 9 formed at the juncture of th-e shank 7 with the body 3 acting in opposition to the weight body 6 drawn inward by the threaded engagement 8 of the shank 7 affords a clamping effect which reinforces and strengthens the wooden head l to prevent splitting. Moreover' the weight body 6 being directly connected with the body 3 by the interconnecting shank 7 the momentum of the weight and its effect upon the swing` of the club is transmitted directly to the impact body 3 and to the hall at the moment of the impact therewith. The direct connection of the impact body 3 with the follower weight 6 thus obviates any vibration or lost motion in t-he body l of the club head and insures the full effect of the follower' weight 6 being` transmitted directly to the ball. IVhile this is the preferred construction it is not necessary that the insert body 3 be connected to the weight body 6 in order to secure it in its position and this is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the insert body 3 is not connected rearwardly with the weight.

By employing the threaded anchor studs 4 insert bodies of various shapes may be fiXedly secured in the striking face. In Fig. 4 there is shown a variation wherein a rectangular insert is anchored by a threaded stud 4 at each corner. While affording all the advantages of secure anchorage in positive connection of the insert the present construction permits a wide variation of design which affords a variety of striking` faces of pleasing appearance.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate further possibilities of the present construction to afford clubs of characteristically different appearance.. In this construction the main insert body 3 is provided with a central anchor stud l0 extending entirely through the insert body 3 and engaging in the head of the club but not extending into engagement with the weight 6 as in 2. This anchor stud l0 provided with an enlarged head l1 having a shouldered piece within the insert 3. Located at opposite sides of the centrally disposed anchor stud l0 and simultaneously engaging not only the head l and primary insert 3 but also the head of the anchor stud l0 are additional anchor studs l2. These studs 12 like the studs 4 `do not eX- tend to the full depth of the primary insert 3 but have shouldered engagement at their inner ends with such insert and also threaded engagement on one sidey with the club head 1 and on the opposite side with the head l1 or the central studs l0 and further threaded engagement intermediate these points with the primartv7 insert ,3. By maliingr the several members 3, Il and 12 of differently colored material striking faces of characteristically different appearance may be afforded.

. From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible ot' modifications in its form proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing 'from the principle involv-ed or sacriiicing any et its advantages.

IVhile in order to comply with the statute lthe invention' has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that 'the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form ot several modes of putting the invention into etllect and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a golf club the combination with a club head ot an impact body embedded in the striking face of the head and a plurality of screw threaded anchor studs, also located in the striking face ot the club head, substantially upon the marginal line et the insert body with one Side of their' screw threaded portions intersecting and engaging in the impact body and the other side ot such screw threaded portions intersecting and engaging in the main portion ot the club head.

2. In a golf club the combination with a golf club head, of a circular impact body embedded in the striking tace thereof, and a plurality of studs also embedded in the striking tace ot the club head and having anchoring engagement simultaneously with the circular impact body and with the main portion of the head oi the club.

3. In a golf club the combination with a club head, of an insert body embedded in the striking tace ot the head, and a plurality of screw threaded studs also embedded in the striking tace of the club head and substantially coincident with the margin of said insert body and having simultaneous engagement with the insert and with the club head, said insert body and studs being of diierently colored materials to atlord distinctive color designs.

4. In a golf club, the combination with a club head of a ace plate embedded in the striking tace ol the club, an insert body embedded in the striking face otl the club head within the boundary of the tace plate and a plurality ot studs also embedded in the striking `lace of the club head and indenting the marginal line of the insert body, said tace plate, insert body and studs being of difi ferently colored material, to form in association with each other distinctive color designs.

5. In a gell club, the combination with a club head oi a plurality of differently colored inserts embedded in the striking tace oit the golf club head to form in association with each other distinctive color designs.

G. In a golf club the combination with the gol'tl club head ot a revoluble impact body embedded in the striking tac-e oit the club head, a non-revoluble weight body embedded in the rear tace et the club head, and an intermediate connection between the impact body and the weight body.

7. In a golf club, the combination with the club head of an insert body revolubly mounted in the striking tace of the club head, and, a screw threaded shankupon the revoluble insert body, and a non-revoluble weight body embedded at the rear side of the club head with which the-screw threaded shank engages.

8. In a golf club, the combination with a club head of an insert body mounted in the striking face of the club head, and a weight body embedded in the rear portion ot the. club head, and a revoluble screw threaded coupling member interconnecting the impact body and weight body.

9. In a golt club, the combination with a club head oit an insert body revolubly mounted in the striking tace of the club head, and a Weight body embedded in the rear portion of the club head, and a screw threaded shank upon one ot said embedded bodies and engaging the other embedded body.

10. In a golf club, the combination with a club head of an impact body embedded in the striking face of the club head and a non-revoluble weight body embedded in the rear face of the club head, and revoluble coupling means for relatively adjusting the embedded impact and weight bodies in relation with each other.

11. In a golf club, the combination with the club head of a revoluble impact body embedded in the striking face ot the club head, a weight body embedded in the rear face of the club head said bodies being relatively adjustable by the rotation of the impact body, and means for locking the impact body against rotation. Y

12. In a golfclub, the combination with a golf club head ot' a revoluble impact body embedded in the striking face of the club head means for securing the impact body therein by the rotation thereof, and anchor studs screw threaded into the striking 'tace ot the club in positions intersecting the impact body and also intersecting the main body of the club head adjacent to such impact body.

13. A game clubhaving an insert in its striking' tace, which comprises a central insert and a plurality of smaller inserts in grooves in said central insert, and means on the surface of said smallervinserts for retaining them in position.

14. A game club having an insert in its striking face, Which comprises a central insert and a plurality of lateral inserts of the same material as the Central insert, angularly disposed and having their contiguous faces shaped to cooperate throughout a substantial portion of their length.

15. A game club having an insert in its striking face, which comprises a central insert and a plurality of smaller' inserts, said smaller inserts being provided With retaining means and being arranged to interlock with said central insert.

1G. A game club having a Wooden head provided with a. resilient insert in the striling face thereof, Which comprises a larger insert, a smaller insert passing through at least a portion of the larger insert and into the Wood of said head, and interlocking means on said smaller insert for retaining it and the larger insert in position.

17. In a golf club. the combination With a club head7 a revoluble insert body embedded in the striking face of the club head Within the boundary of the face and a plurality ot' studs also embedded in the striking face oi the club head and indenting the marginal line of the insert body.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28rd day of July, A. D. 1923.

GEORGE IV. MATT 

